Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA Agents Visit Red Lake Indian Reservation

A member of DEA helps a student try on a raid vest.

DEA agents discussed the dangers of methamphetamine with middle school students on the Red Lake Reservation.

RED LAKE, Minn. – Agents with the DEA Omaha Division spent two days talking with approximately 300 middle school students on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota about the dangers of drugs, the science behind drug abuse and ways to avoid allowing drugs an opportunity to steal their futures. These events took place on February 14th and 20th, 2020.

Agents responded to questions and concerns from sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Red Lake and Ponemah Middle Schools. Several students within the school system have either personally experienced, or have friends or family members who have been impacted by the destructive power of drug addiction.

Students were receptive to the DEA’s message and asked countless questions about a variety of drugs including heroin and methamphetamine. At the end of each presentation, students had a chance to try on raid gear. DEA agents enjoyed lunch with the students and introduced them to the uniformed cops, stressing the importance of community policing.

“For the past three months, DEA has been working closely with local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement investigators in north central Minnesota in an effort to counter the increasing flow of methamphetamine, heroin and opioids that are being trafficked on tribal lands that include the Red Lake Reservation,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Richard Salter Jr., said. “Combatting illicit drug trafficking on tribal lands requires close cooperation and coordination among all law enforcement agencies and prosecutorial entities to leverage the full force of the law. We will collectively continue our work to identify and remove drug traffickers from our tribal lands.”